Page 16 of Lust

“Your reassurance would hold more weight if you didn't look like you’re on the verge of throwing up,” I point out. She practically turns to stone as Dade Angelis appears on the screen. My eyes scan the restaurant for the real Dade. He’s nowhere to be seen. He must have slipped out when he realized what was happening. He does look majestic on the big screen with his wings out fully and the black leather they’ve fashioned him in. Someone at the opposite end of the restaurant wolf whistles, and that’s followed by a cheer. It seems Dade is unwittingly an idol in here as he was in Purgatory.

The thought makes me feel a little better. I don’t know Dade as well as Quinn, but murderer or not, the guy does not like being the center of attention. This is a trial, just like Quinn said. It might not be an official trial. Those start in the morning, but there will be a hundred small challenges like this and if I let them get to me, I’ll lose and end up stuck here for eternity and there’s no way I’m going to let that happen.

A NEW RAGE

QUINN

Idon’t need to rely on my Hell Cell beeping to tell me it’s time for the first trial. I’ve spent the night awake, hoping this moment never arrives. If it wasn’t for Jenny, I wouldn’t bother dragging my ass out of bed at all, but, just like everything else in here, I have no choice. My reflection stares back at me in the bathroom mirror. I look like I've been dragged through Hades' Labyrinth backwards by one of his hell hounds. My hair is sticking up and out in every direction and my skin is sallow, with dark circles under my eyes. So much for Lust making us all look beautiful. I pick up the brush and bring it to my hair, but as I do, I realize I don’t want to make myself look presentable. I’m probably going to have to sleep with Dade. By this point, it’s pretty much a given, but if I have to sleep with the murderous bastard, I don’t have to look pretty while doing it. I throw on the first crappy outfit I can find, which is actually more difficult than I’d thought seeing as my entire wardrobe looks like it’s been lifted from back-stage at Paris Fashion Week, and head outside.

Instead of taking the elevator, I opt to walk down the front, curving around each floor and taking the steps. Less chance of bumping into either Remy or Dade this way. I’ll have to see both of them down there, but if I can put it off for as long as possible, I will.

Looking over the lowest balcony. I see both of them. Remy is sitting next to Felix, who has Anthura on his other side. I’m surprised to see Candice sitting apart from them, somewhere in the middle between the weird couple Peace and Carrots or whatever their names are. My eyes automatically move over to Dade. I can’t help it. He’s so obvious in the sea of pink. He’s sitting directly opposite Anthura, basically as far away as he can get from her in the semicircle. Next to him is the only empty space. No one wants to sit with him. They all know he’s the murderer. Just thinking about it is almost painful to breathe against. With horror, I realize that if there’s only one empty spot left, I’m going to have to be the one to take it.

Right at the front, Noémi stands, looking as gorgeous as ever in a pink dress that hugs her flawless curves and flares out at the bottom. As I watch, Anthura stands, taking a place next to Noémi. She looks down at her Hell Cell, and even though I’m a floor above them, I can clearly hear her muttering about me being late. I take the last set of stairs two at a time. The atrium is full of people, all brought here, no doubt by curiosity. They surround the circle of love seats, keeping a small distance. It’s clear that the games are just as much a spectacle here as they were in Purgatory. I swallow back my nerves as I take the last remaining seat next to Dade. The reality of my newfound celebrity status is a sensation I doubt I'll ever get used to.

Dade remains unaffected, his attention unswayed, and he doesn't extend even a nod of recognition as I sit down.

“Bonjour, good morning,” Noémi says cheerfully as she walks round the back of the love seats and swings, touching each of us on the shoulder and forcing us to crane our heads round to see her. As she passes me and her hand brushes across my back, a shiver passes through my body. I’ve always been highly attuned to the demons in this place, more so than most people, but Noémi’s touch hits me harder than all of them. At least it doesn’t burn my skin like the demons in purgatory used to. A hit of desire spirals away from that touch, but she doesn’t linger and as soon as she lifts her fingers, the desire fades. I might not have known the term succubus before Twila told me it, but I don’t need a name to know Noémi is a demon of potent strength - both magical and sexual.

At the front, the two guards, Asmodée and Arch, stand, arms folded, both looking forward.

“Glad you deigned to bother yourself with this meeting, Ms. Valentine,” Anthura says, taking a place in front of them. “It’s good to see that you’ve not changed one iota since leaving Purgatory and that it’s not only I that is beneath you, but Noémi as well. It’s almost as though you don’t give two shits about your sister.”

I remember what Twila told me about Anthura no longer being in charge and I wonder if anyone has actually told her. I open my mouth to defend myself, but in the corner of my eye, I see that Dade has finally turned round and is looking at me. I try to ignore his stare, but it’s difficult because I feel it burning into me. Noémi’s demon aura is strong, and hers along with sensations of Anthura, Moloch, Asmodée, and Arch, all mingle within me to create an unsettling sensation, but it’s Dade’s aura I’m most attuned to, and even in the melting pot of demon aura’s, his comes through the strongest.

“I’m sure she just slept een,” Noémi says, giving me a wink and thankfully taking Dade’s… and everyone else’s attention away from me.

Anthura isn’t to be stopped, even by Noémi. “It's quite apparent that she neglected to comb her hair this morning, Mr. Angelis. I empathize with your predicament. If she's skipped hair brushing, I daresay she hasn't bothered with tooth brushing either.”

My heart drops. I indeed didn't brush my teeth. I practically tumbled out of bed and made my way down here. While there might be some truth to her words, I'm not fond of the observation. I vow to make sure I’m immaculate as everyone else seems to be from now on, if only to keep Anthura’s attention off of me.

“Quinn looks just darling,” Noémi says. “I love what you’ve done to your ‘air. Is zat the new rage up on Earth?”

Opposite me, Felix scowls. With everything else going on, I’d forgotten that I also have him to worry about. I’ve got so many people that hate me, it’s hard to keep track of them all these days.

“No, Noémi,” I say, turning my eyes to her and smiling. “I’m starting a new rage here.”

Beside Felix, Remy smirks and for the first time today, the pressure in my chest lifts slightly. He gives me a wink and a slight nod of his head. It’s as sexy as all hell, but it’s also a comforting gesture.

“Well, I for one, love eet!” Noémi says to me with a warm smile. At least there’s one person in here that doesn’t hate me. Although I get the feeling, she’s about as sincere as a kumquat. No one can like everyone as much as she seems to. She turns to everyone else, keeping the smile on her face. “You all know why we are ‘ere today. I hope you’ve all ‘ad a good breakfast because you are going to need your strength for ze first trial.”

As if on cue, my stomach rumbles. I should have eaten. I should have slept.

“Before I let you all in to what we’ll be doing today, I do ‘ave a couple of announcements to make.” She steps up to the front, practically pushing Anthura out of the way. I ‘ave been talking to ‘Ades about ze trials ‘ere. I ‘ave poured my ‘eart and soul into zese trials and I ‘ope you enjoy zem. ‘Ades and I feel zat zere are too many people on ze leadersheep team, so, to add a leetle spice, Anthura and Moloch are now contestants in ze games. Zey are no longer in charge. I am.” She giggles.

Anthura looks like she’s about to punch Noémi in the nose. With a surge of frustration, she starts to storm away, halted only by Felix, stepping up and catching her arm. He whispers something in her ear, causing her to sit back down next to him, her arms folded across her chest. I search for Moloch.

I have seen him since coming to Lust, but he’s usually hiding in the background. I find him standing behind the back sofa. He’s not smiling as such, but he’s certainly not as angry as Anthura is at this piece of news. I get the feeling he’s hated being in Anthura’s shadow for so long. And now he has to complete the first trial with her. To give him his due, he’s an attractive guy. Sleeping with him wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

It’s clear that the news of Anthura and Moloch’s fall from Hades’ grace was the worst kept secret. Despite Anthura trying to take charge at the beginning of the meeting, it’s clear that the news has failed to elicit surprise amongst those of us here.

“Also, once ze second trial ees over, I weel be ‘olding a ball for all ze Inferno Games contestants, ze likes of weech ‘ave never been seen.” She claps her hands in apparent delight and some of the people watching cheer. “I weel theme it on my days at ze Moulin Rouge. Tres elegante and a leetle sexy, no?”

I feel the bubbling of excitement in the whispers of the surrounding people, but it’s clouded by the cold aura emanating from Dade. I guess he’s not the dancing type.

“Now zat all ze news is out of ze way,” Noémi continues. “Let’s start with ze first trial.” There’s a collective groan. So far, she’s the only one that’s shown the slightest bit of enthusiasm for the games. “I’ve tried to make eet as easy as possible while having a leettle bit of fun on the way.” She holds her forefinger and thumb half an inch apart. I’m pretty sure, even that is an exaggeration of the amount of fun we’re all going to experience in the next couple of hours. “You should all know who you’re partnered up with for ze first trial.”

I don’t want to look at Dade, but his body curves slightly as she says that. A shiver of dread skits down my spine as his aura practically freezes.

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